Ball State set to suspend 16 in ongoing probe

Ball State suspended 16 players for Saturday's
game at No. 21 Boston College in a continuing investigation of
NCAA violations.

The university said in early September that 43 athletes in six sports
improperly used a book loan program to obtain textbooks not
required for their own courses or received improperly obtained
textbooks from other players. The Cardinals suspended 13 players for the opener against Iowa.

The violations were discovered last spring and were reported to
the NCAA, which has not yet taken action.

Wynn, the Cardinals' leading rusher this season with 126 yards in two games and Williamson, the top
returning receiver from 2004 were suspended against Iowa. Defensive ends Booker and Macarthy and defensive tackle Kellar are also listed as starters on the preseason depth chart and were suspended for the season's first game.

"As soon as we became aware of irregularities with book loans
for a few student-athletes for the 2004-05 academic year through
regular business review, we chose to examine the records for all
186 student-athletes who received financial aid for books that
year," athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in early September.

He said the NCAA reviewed a report by Ball State this summer and
recommended expanding the investigation to previous years and with
different types of records.

"We are working as quickly as we can to move ahead on their
recommendations," Cunningham said.

Since the violations were discovered, Cunningham said, the
university has tightened its policies on book loans, including a
separate checkout counter for athletes.

Under the book loan program, athletes whose financial aid covers
books for required courses receive books on loan from the
university at the beginning of the semester. The books are returned
to the bookstore at the end of the semester.

Ball State is 0-3 on the season, with a 56-0 loss to Iowa , a 40-31 loss to Bowling Green and a 63-3 drubbing at the hands of Auburn. Boston College is 2-1.